Rhapsody In Pink Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit VIII’ RHAPSODY IN PINK PP 16616

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b (10a?) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Tree

Height at Maturity: 10-12′

Width at Maturity: 8-10′
Spacing: 7′ for solid hedge; 14’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Rounded Canopy

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: Soft Pink

Flowering Period: Summer, Early Fall, Repeat Bloomer

Flower Type: Single flowers in large rounded to elongated clusters

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Purple, Dark Green
Fall Foliage Color: Red, Orange, Yellow

Fragrant Foliage: No

Bark Color: Brown, Gray

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun

Water Needs: Average, low when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Moderate Drought, Heat

Description

When it comes to flowering trees, there’s simply no others more showy than Crape Myrtles. They bloom for up to 100 days during summer, when there are few other trees and shrubs providing that service in the landscape. Colorful fall foliage and attractive exfoliating bark in winter enhance their overall appeal. It’s no wonder they are so wildly popular among designers and gardeners!

A truly remarkable Crape Myrtle, ‘Rhapsody in Pink’ is a reblooming selection that tolerates both heat and cold…to -10F! It is also more tolerant of drought than most other crape myrtle varieties and has demonstrated superior resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot. In puts on a season long color show starting with the emergence of vibrant burgundy-red new leaves that turn to an almost-black to dark burgundy tinted dark green in summer and finally to various shades of red, yellow, and orange in fall. The dark green leaves provide a wonderful backdrop for the elongated clusters of pretty, soft-pink flowers that emerge in early to mid summer and rebloom through fall. handsome grey-brown bark exfoliates with age providing winter interest after the leaves drop in mid to late fall.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 10 to 12 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide, the Rhapsody In Pink Crape Myrtle can be grown as a shrub or small tree. As a shrub it is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or as a colorful natural hedge in sunny landscape borders. As this crape myrtle grows taller lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive small tree for use as a focal point specimen in home foundation plantings and landscape borders and is also suitable for large containers. Wherever you plant this beauty, it is one fine crape myrtle that is sure to draw lots of attention. A fine addition to pink theme gardens, cottage gardens and the Xeriscape.

Suggested Spacing: 7 feet apart for solid hedge; 14 feet apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Crape Myrtle variety is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

The Rhapsody in Pink Crape Myrtle is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full to mostly sun. At least 6 hours of direct sunlight is suggested for best flowering. Constantly soggy or wet soil is problematic. Too much shade and flowering will be diminished. Does not require pruning unless a tree form is desired.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Crape Myrtle trees.

How To Plant A Crape Myrtle In The Ground Or In A Pot

How To Prune a Crape Myrtle Tree the Right Way

How To Fertilize & Water A Crape Myrtle

How To Prune a Dwarf Crape Myrtle

Choosing the Right Crape Myrtle

Plant Long & Prosper!

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